MotorsportMore joy for Jackson

MAT Jackson enjoyed that winning feeling for the second BTCC event in a row when taming treacherous track conditions at Thruxton on Sunday.

The Henley race ace made a superb start from his qualifying position of fourth before taking advantage of a collision between Andrew Jordan and Jason Plato to roar into the lead of race one.

Once in front he proved uncatchable in his E Spares/Volvo Trucks-backed Redstone Racing Ford Focus before officials stopped the race early following a crash further back in the field.

“The conditions were atrocious with heavy rain and standing water on the track surface which meant aquaplaning at high speed - even on the straights, probably around 140mph, the car was trying to get away from me so I really had to be on it,” Jackson said.

It was Jackson’s second victory of the season following on from his success at Donington Park a fortnight ago, coming off his best qualifying performance for more than a year.

There was more celebrating to be done later in the day when Jackson finished third in race two and fifth in race three.

The results have moved him up to fourth in the BTCC drivers’ standings whilst he bow sits top of the Independent Drivers Trophy. Jackson’s efforts also helped move Redstone Racing into top spot in the Independent teams’ chart.

“To win race one with a load of success ballast in the car (36kgs) and in those conditions was a great achievement,” Jackson said.

“Carrying maximum ballast (45kgs) did not make any difference in race two - while I led the opening half of the race the smaller tyre the Focus runs compared to the Hondas and MGs started to suffer and that’s why I couldn’t hold on.

“At the start of race three Matt Neal gave me a bit of a nibble - I almost thought it was going to swap ends and head for the wall. That cost me places so fifth was still reasonable.

“It’s been a great weekend and I’m already looking forward to our next event at Oulton Park in Cheshire in early June where I took my first win in the BTCC in 2007.

“Keeping up with the Hondas of Neal and Shedden and Plato’s MG is going to be tough but nobody in the pit lane works harder and is more passionate than the Redstone Racing team and we’re going to give it everything to keep up the pressure on them.”